The Unknown Kings- The MacLomain Series: Irish Roots Prelude: The MacLomain Series: Irish Roots

Story Overview

Cian Uí Briúin, King of Connacht, has long known he’s destined to combine forces with a woman from another era. One who will help him keep Ireland’s history on track. Save his people from tyranny and ruin. What he does not expect is being called home to fight an enemy king before meeting her. Nor that she will help him save his country from across time regardless. A selfless act that tests his resolve from the beginning not to care for her too deeply.

The Unknown Kings

A MacLomain Series: Irish Roots Prelude

By

Sky Purington

COPYRIGHT © 2022

The Unknown Kings

Sky Purington

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this story may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Edited by

Cathy McElhaney

Andrea Snider

Cover Art by Tara West

Published in the United States of America

Contents

Story Overview

Series Introduction

Pronunciations

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

A Celtic Memory

Just Curious?

Coming Soon

Exclusive Invitation

Previous Releases-Best Reading Order

Family Trees

About the Author

Series Introduction

Torn apart through the years, four unknown kings must save Ireland’s people and history by teaming up with women across time. Lassies who possess a gift that will make all the difference in what is to come. The only problem? It will bode ill to get too close to them. Worse yet, fall in love. Is such a thing truly avoidable, though, considering what they must face together? How close they will ultimately become? Only time with tell.

Pronunciations

Aisling (Ash-ling)

Aodh (Aye)

Cian (Kee-an)

Connacht (Kaa-nuhkt)

Declán (Deh-klin)

Leinster (Len-ster)

Liam (Lee-um)

Raghnall (Rag-nall)

Chapter One

Kingdom of Connacht, Ireland

1060 A.D.

THE MOMENT KING CIAN Uí Briúin arrived home, he knew something had gone wrong. He had been away aiding his friends in a war between Norse and Celtic gods. Now he was supposed to be in the twenty-first century helping a lass who called to him across time.

Yet here you are, came a soft feminine voice on the wind. Caught between times. Thrust about by the gods to defend your land before ‘tis no more. Destined to play a part in so many lives.

Yet here I am, he echoed, taking in the verdant woodland of his upbringing. When I should be in the future reminding a lassie of something very important.

What that was remained a mystery. Sometimes he thought he knew, but it always got away from him. He had a message for her beyond that she would be needed here. That she was, in part, his country's salvation. How, though? What role could a modern-day woman possibly play in what Ireland ultimately faced?

Something Aisling clearly knew but would not share.

He focused on the flickering sunlight in the sturdy oaks and regal pines until he saw traces of Aisling’s face. A woodland fairy who was half Seelie and Unseelie, or half-light, half-dark, she had been offering him counsel for as long as he could remember. Lending him aid because he could run as dark as he could good.

Why am I here when I should have gone to her first, Aisling? Yet again, he was impressed by her powers. It was no small thing bringing him here when he had been thrust someplace else by a god, no less. Why am I not with the woman who will help our kingdom survive?

Because she would. It had been written in stone. Seen by the gods.

I brought you here because a battle before battles brews, m’Lord. Aisling’s lovely pixie-like features wavered in the sunlit leaves swaying in the wind. "One that cannot wait for your lassie from the future. It must be tackled sooner rather than later, lest you, we, lose our land before you and your brothers see through your destiny."

He stemmed out his magic but sensed little strife at his borders.

Tell me of this battle. Though frustrated to be thwarted from heading to the future, he grinned when his horse joined him. A magnificent black beastie well suited to a warrior and wizard.